The development of a teachers' manual in powder metallurgy for use in a baccalaureate engineering technology curriculum

Abstract

This was a developmental study to produce a teachers' manual that could be used in a unit of study in powder metallurgy. In order for the manual content to reflect the current thinking of people knowledgeable in powder metallurgy a survey was conducted. This survey involved sending questionnaires to all of the member companies of the Powder Metallurgy Parts Association of the United States and Canada. After the questionnaires were returned from the respondents the information was compiled. This information was then developed into the teachers' manual. The evaluation of the manual content for its effectiveness was accomplished by teaching a unit in powder metallurgy for a period of six weeks. There were 18 students involved in the study. All of these were upped division students that had fulfilled the core curriculum requirements of the Division of Engineering Technology at Memphis State University. Prior to the teaching of the unit a pretest and posttest were developed. The pretest was administered before the unit was taught. The test scores were tabulated and the mean was calculated. The unit was then taught for six weeks and the posttest was given. The mean was calculated for this test.